Today’s rockers aren’t your grandmother’s rockers. They’re sleek, modern and can work as easily in nurseries as they can in living rooms. And gliders, once large, clunky eye sores, are now high style contemporary nursery-musts, available in tweed, micro suede and leather—some even go so far as to kick back and recline.

Choosing between a host of good options may make decision-making even harder of course. Tribeca Pregnancy and Parenting Education Director Erica Lyons confirms, “There’s no real difference for soothing a child,” when choosing between a glider and rocker. But for families with toddlers, she adds, gliders have an added benefit: “Gliders don’t rock on little hands—but as long as mom is aware of no little fingers under the rocking chair, either is fine.”

Ralph Montemurro, co-owner of Monte Design Group, a family owned Canadian company founded on the concept of locally manufactured chic chairs, gives his own take. “A glider is great because it is a quiet, stable option that looks great in any room—and the glider-recliner gives you that and the ability to put your feet up and lay back. A rocker, on the other hand, is a classic choice because of its timeless style and design, and, with no moving parts, can last generations.”

Montemurro says he and his wife Michelle started Monte Design after successfully identifying a void in the market, and notes, designing a better nursery chair wasn’t easy. In fact, they made 40-50 prototypes of the original Luca glider (named after their third child) before going to market. Since then, they’ve been manufacturing gliders and rockers in Canada, without seeing a trend in preference between gliding and rocking. It seems in the end, it comes down to personal preference and aesthetic taste.

So, what do you say? Are you going to rock or glide?

Whatever you choose, we salute you.

Some questions to ask after you’ve decided to rock or glide

Is it easy to clean? Is it comfortable? Does it fit in with my decor? Is it easy to get out of (not too low)? Where is it made? How is it made?

Some of our references are a bit looser! We wanted to use the banana, because it was fun, but and let the kids do what they would with the fruit! We also added a little philosophical reference, legitimizing their observation by attribution (only viewable in the video!)

Art imitates life and fashion imitates art and art imitates fashion and life imitates art and fashion. The derivative nature of pop culture, the constant mixing and remixing and changing elements got us thinking as we embarked upon our latest fashion story. Amidst all of the Banksy buzz at the end of last year, we tried to imagine what that life was like on our Babesta terms - what was the elusive artist like as a kid? What would a child version of the provocateur do? be like? look like? Then growing up from graffiti artist to toast of the town, embraced by the elite art circles, while maintaining street cred – the story arch is that of any little guy who made it big – it’s Katniss, Rocky, the Rolling Stones.

Collaborating with Katrina Tang, the creative force with whom we created Mimi & the Magic Forest, we crafted a new story, Pranksy & the Playground Mob. A derivative of a derivative, reworking, reinterpreting the artists’ work from a child’s view to culminate in the story, the musical, the feature film, the creative output that is Pranksy. The child that was always silly, naughty, bold, who was told “no” more times that she could count, who wedged sticks in the wheel of the machine, and who lobbed some piñata-projectiles at life. But, after a while, got people to take notice, and eventually celebrate the risk, the pluck and the artistry. So we conclude, there’s Pranksy in all of us. The Pranksy spirit is alive at Babesta! We had a blast. I hope you like it!

Big thanks to the editors of Pregnancy & Newborn for featuring Babesta in their Specialty Shop round up and top picks! We selected our fave Rockabye Baby CDs, as an essential for any cool city families. They are at once kid-appropriate and soothing, yet give a shoutout to your favorite musicians! This is a perfect gift for a pal or partner who loves their bands. Read the whole issue at Pregnancy & Newborn Magazine.

We got to visit our friends at Bloom yesterday & preview all of their new items! We love the new Retro Crib and Dresser, 100% hardwood, available all in white or in walnut. They’ll be on the floor soon to see in person.

I’m an avid subway rider – it’s the easiest way to get around this city (and I don’t totally understand the bus system). When I read in NY Mag about one intrepid creative’s (none other than LCD Soundstystem’s former frontman, James Murphy) concept of adding some music to the turnstile, I got excited. I remember seeing the piano stairs in the past and other such concepts, and love the idea of bringing a little fun and something unexpected to a rote ride uptown. Like wind chimes for people…Come on MTA, lighten up & let the music play! Read about James Murphy & the musical subway in NY Mag.